One of the mistakes often made when describing what people look for in a ‘strong female character’ is a fierce, independent woman. She relies on no one of any gender to get what she needs, and she has all the skills she could possibly require at her fingertips. She’s the lone hunter, the woman warrior, […]

Joss Whedon’s frequent return to themes about mental illness is one I’ve remarked on, as has my colleague Anna. His explorations of mental illness have not always been terribly nuanced or complex, and it’s notable that he keeps coming back to some core themes. Charitable readings might suggest that he’s exploring social justice issues and […]

Pop culture provides us with many insights and views into human experiences; one of the things I adore about it as a medium is the ability to explore the human condition from so many perspectives. And, in television, to return to recurrent themes that are important to the creators or characters. In the summer, I […]

Drusilla is one of the most interesting characters on Buffy and Angel. She flits in and out of storylines, often playing a very critical role, and she’s also one of Whedon’s Brunettes, the characters who recur over and over again in various forms in Whedon’s work. Fragile, but dangerous. Eerie, but in need of protection […]

Content note: This post discusses BDSM and rape. One of the more complex, troublesome, and ultimately frustrating relationships on Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the Buffy/Spike relationship. Spike, originally introduced as a bit character, wormed his way into being a central character on the series, and with good reason. He’s complex, he’s dynamic, he’s interesting, […]

I think it’s been pretty clearly established that I’m a fan of Joss Whedon’s work; why else would I devote so much time to shredding it? (I critique because I care.) And I interact with a lot of Joss fans who are in the same boat I’m in; we like his work a lot, or […]

I’ve been rewatching bits and pieces of Buffy for various projects and I am struck, yet again, by the notable abscence of Latino and Latina characters on the show. I am not the first person to have noticed this, nor will I be the last. tablesaw did an excellent and very thorough analysis looking at […]

Content note: Before reading this post, please read ‘Feminism and Joss Whedon: Setting Some Boundaries‘ if you have not done so already. Cordelia Chase is one of the most fascinating characters in the Buffyverse, a world which is already quite full of very interesting characters. However, the way that Cordelia is handled makes her kind […]